Heard on the Hill: Eye Spy a Bachmann Controversy

Rep. Michele Bachmann and eyewear company LensCrafters aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye. The Minnesota Republican recently dragged the company into the raging debate over abortion — and LensCrafters wants out.

Bachmann recently launched into a screed against Planned Parenthood, calling it “the LensCrafters of big abortion.” She apparently used the metaphor to imply that Planned Parenthood was a ubiquitous, one-stop shop that makes its services convenient — just like LensCrafters, which offers eye exams and prescription glasses on the fly.

But LensCrafters didn’t like the comparison. A company spokeswoman tells HOH that it contacted Bachmann’s office Tuesday asking that she stop using its name. “She’s using our name without our knowledge or permission,” says Julie Maslov, communications director for Luxottica Retail, LensCrafters’ parent company.

She didn’t cite any legalese but rather says that the request was made “in the spirit of the fact that we have nothing to do with these parties or the debate.”

A Bachmann spokesman says that the request was “perfectly understandable” and that Bachmann would avoid using the company’s name in the future.

Sounds like they’ve made peace — and HOH will raise her glasses to that.